Legalities for Licensing/Contracting Audio

[bripro]

Hi all!

I'm going to contract some exclusive music done for my game which I then want to own, as well as use existing music which I'll need to license the rights to.

I'm wondering if someone can tell me what steps I need to take to ensure that I have the full rights I need to distrubute the game with the audio, including later ports, etc.

Can I get a lawyer to set up a basic contract and use it for all the musicians?

I'm going to be licensing existing music from many different people for the game, 1-5 songs per person most likely. I hope I wouldn't need to get a lawyer involed for each person.

Any input, advice, tips are appreciated.

Thanks!

[papillon]

... making a mouse-driven DDR game? :)

(obviously, I am not the OP.)

[Obscure]

You can get a lawyer to make a standard licensing/assignment agreement but there is a chance that some of the musicians may not agree to sign it without negotiating some of the clauses. In which case you will need the lawyer to get involved again or else just not deal with that musician.

Also you will need a lawyer that understand IP licensing. Unfortunately they are more expensive than standard (family/business law) lawyers.